Cleaning apparatus

ABSTRACT

A cleaning apparatus for cleaning of medical machine components of machines such as CPAP machines, nebulizers, PEEP machines, and the like is disclosed herein. The cleaning apparatus comprises a container body. A carousel is configured for placement within the container body. The carousel comprises a support structure. The carousel further comprises a helical ramp attached to the support structure and extending helically from an operative top end of the support structure to an operative bottom end of the support structure along a periphery of the support structure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present Application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/833,926 entitled “CLEANING APPARATUS”, filed Mar. 30, 2020,which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein for allpurposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a cleaning apparatus, andmore particularly, to a cleaning apparatus for cleaning differentcomponents of different medical machines, e.g., a continuous positiveairway pressure (CPAP) machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sleep apnea is a sleep-associated disorder in which a person hasmomentary breaks in breathing or periods of shallow breathing duringsleep. Each such break can last for a few seconds to a few minutes, andusually occur many times in a night. In the most common form of sleepapnea, each such break in the breathing is followed by loud snoring,subsequent to which there may be a choking or a snorting sound when thebreathing resumes.

Sleep apnea is of two types. The first type of sleep apnea is centralsleep apnea (CSA) in which the breathing repeatedly stops and startsduring sleep. CSA occurs because the brain does not send proper signalsto the muscles that control the breathing. The second type sleep apneais obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In OSA, the breathing of a person isinterrupted because of a blockage to the airflow. A person may eitherhave CSA or OSA or both. OSA is the most commonly occurring form ofsleep apnea. Some people with sleep apnea are unaware they have thecondition. Sleep apnea disrupts sleep cycle, which may cause a person toexperience sleepiness or feel tired during the day.

To this end, different methods for treating or at least mitigating theeffects sleep apnea are developed in the art. One such method involvesusage of nose clips, wherein the nose clips are designed to prevent theclosing of the nasal airway gap. By preventing the closing of the nasalairway gap, OSA can be prevented.

Another widely used method for dealing with sleep apnea involves theusage of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. The CPAPmachine gently blows pressurized air through a user's airway at aconstant pressure that keeps the throat from collapsing. The CPAPmachine typically includes a CPAP motor, a CPAP mask, and a hose. Thehose facilitates the air communication between the CPAP motor and theCPAP mask. The CPAP mask and the CPAP hose are exposed to nasal and oralsecretions and often require frequent cleaning for maintenance ofoptimal hygiene. However, it is difficult to properly clean the hosebecause when the hose is dipped into water or a cleaning solution, theair is trapped inside the hose which prevents the hose from properlysinking into the cleaning solution. When the hose does not sink into thecleaning solution, an optimal contact between the surfaces of the hoseand the cleaning solution is not achieved. As such, the hose is notcleaned properly, which is not desired.

Accordingly, there is felt a need of a cleaning apparatus that can beused for optimally cleaning different components of the medical machinessuch as CPAP machine, nebulizers, and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure provides a cleaning apparatus. The cleaningapparatus comprises a container body. A carousel is configured forplacement within the container body. The carousel comprises a supportstructure conforming with the shape of the container body. The carouselfurther comprises a helical ramp attached to the support structure andextending helically from an operative top end of the support structureto an operative bottom end of the support structure along a periphery ofthe support structure.

The above summary contains simplifications, generalizations andomissions of detail and is not intended as a comprehensive descriptionof the claimed subject matter but, rather, is intended to provide abrief overview of some of the functionality associated therewith. Othersystems, methods, functionality, features and advantages of the claimedsubject matter will be or will become apparent to one with skill in theart upon examination of the following figures and detailed writtendescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description of the illustrative embodiments can be read inconjunction with the accompanying figures. It will be appreciated thatfor simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements illustrated in thefigures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, thedimensions of some of the elements are exaggerated relative to otherelements. Embodiments incorporating teachings of the present disclosureare shown and described with respect to the figures presented herein, inwhich:

FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of cleaning apparatus, according toone or more embodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of a carousel used in the cleaningapparatus, according to one or more embodiments;

FIG. 3 illustrates another isometric view of cleaning apparatus,according to one or more embodiments; and

FIG. 4 illustrates an isometric view of cleaning apparatus, according toone or more embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates an isometric view of a carousel used in the cleaningapparatus, according to one or more embodiments; and

FIG. 6 illustrates an isometric view of a carousel used in the cleaningapparatus, according to one or more embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Medical machines such as CPAP machine, nebulizers, and Positiveend-expiratory pressure (PEEP) machines, and the like involve the usageof hoses, masks, and the like. The hoses and masks of some of thesemachines are exposed to nasal and oral secretions of the user.Maintaining cleanliness of these components is desired because uncleancomponents may become a cause of infections. Conventionally, thesecomponents are cleaned by soaking them in water or a cleaning solution.However, hoses tend to float on the water or the cleaning solutionbecause the air trapped inside the hose prevents the hose from sinkinginto the cleaning solution. This is not desired.

To this end, the present disclosure envisages a cleaning apparatus forcleaning of different components of CPAP machines, nebulizers, and PEEPmachines. The cleaning apparatus, in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present disclosure, comprises a container body and a carouselconfigured for placement within the container body. The carousel has aconstruction that allows a user to support a hose securely on thecarousel. The carousel can then be disposed within the container bodyand locked in place within the container body while securely holing thehose in place. The hose is held within the container by the carouselsuch that when the carousel is fitted in the container body, the hose isheld and immersed inside the cleaning solution that is present in thecontainer body. Since, the hose is held by the carousel, the air trappedinside the hose escapes in the form of air bubbles through the cleaningsolution that is present in the container body. As such, the entiresurface area of the hose is in contact with the cleaning solution toensure that the hose is optimally clean for the next usage.

A cleaning apparatus 100, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure, is hereinafter described with reference to FIG. 1thru FIG. 3 . The cleaning apparatus 100 (hereinafter referred to asapparatus 100) comprises a container body 102. The container body 102has an operative top end 102A, an operative bottom end 102B and anoperative side 102C. The container body 102, as seen in FIG. 1 , has acylindrical shape. However, the container body 102 is not limited tohave a cylindrical configuration and can also have a squareconfiguration, a rectangular configuration, an elliptical configuration,and the like.

In one or more embodiments, the container body 102 may have conicalsides 102C wherein the operative bottom end 102B is smaller than theoperative top end 102A, particularly to allow for stacking of multiplecontainer bodies 102. In one or more additional embodiments, theoperative top end 102A of the container body 102 may comprise a lid (notshown).

The apparatus 100 further comprises a carousel 104, which is separatelyillustrated in FIG. 2 . The carousel 104 has an operative top end 104Aand an operative bottom end 104B. The carousel 104 is the component ofthe apparatus 100 that is designed to securely hold a hose 106 (shown inFIG. 3 ) immersed within a cleaning solution 108 present within thecontainer body 102. More specifically, the carousel 104 prevents thehose 106 to float on top of the cleaning solution 108 by completelyimmersing the hose 106 within the cleaning solution 108 and holding thehose 106 in that immersed position. The air trapped within the hose 106escapes from the hose 106 in the form of air bubbles through thecleaning solution 108 when the hose 106 is completely immersed or dippedin the cleaning solution 108. As such, the cleaning solution 108 is incontact with the entire surface area of the hose 106, which facilitatesoptimal cleaning of the hose 106.

The cleaning solution 108 may be of various types and may vary accordingto need. Accordingly, there is no best fluid to be provided. In one ormore embodiments, the cleaning solution 108 comprises water, a mild soapsolution, a vinegar solution or any suitable cleaning and disinfectingcomposition. Typically, the cleaning fluid has the composition of soap,vinegar and water solution in the ratio of one-part soap, one-partvinegar and twenty-parts water. A low phosphoric soap is preferred so asto be less toxic to the environment. Of course, the cleaning fluid inaccordance with the instant invention is non-toxic and safe as acleaning fluid for human usage.

The carousel 104 further comprises a support structure 110, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. In one or moreembodiments, the support structure 110 comprises a base 112, wherein thebase 112 is a plate-like component having a shape conforming with thecross section of the container body 102. In another embodiment, the base112 is an opening in the support structure 110.

It is to be noted that the shape of the base 112 may also be differentfrom the shape of the container body cross section. For example, thebase 112 may have a circular shape and can be placed inside a containerbody having a rectangular cross-section. Alternatively, the base 112 isnot limited to being circular and may have any shape corresponding tothe cross-section of the container body 102. In the present embodimentillustrated in FIG. 3 , the base 112 has a circular shape.

The support structure 110 further comprises a plurality of supportpillars 114 supported on the base 112 arranged along the periphery ofthe base 112. As seen in the exemplary embodiment illustrated FIG. 1thru FIG. 4 , the base 112 has a circular shape, and the support pillars114 of the support structure 110 are arranged in a spaced apartconfiguration to define a cylindrical array of support pillars 114 onthe base 112 along the periphery of the base 112.

The operative top ends of the support pillars 114 are terminated into atop element 116. The top element 116, as seen in FIG. 1 thru FIG. 3 is aring. However, the top element 114 is not limited to being a ring andmay have a shape corresponding to the shape of the base 112. The topelement 116, the support pillars 114, and the base 112 form the supportstructure 110. Such a construction of the support structure 110including the top element 116, the support pillars 114, and the base 112is compact and sturdy.

The carousel 104 further comprises a helical ramp 118. The helical ramp118 is attached to the support structure 110, and more specifically, tothe support pillars 114. The helical ramp 118 extends helically from anoperative top end 110A to an operative bottom end 110B of the supportstructure 110 along a periphery thereof. The helical ramp 118, as seenin FIG. 3 , securely holds the hose 106 in place. More specifically, thehose 106 is placed onto the helical ramp 118 and immersed into thecleaning solution 108, while the carousel 104 is locked into placewithin the container body 102. The locking of the carousel 104 withinthe container body 102 restricts any upward movement of the hose 106caused due to the entrapment of air within the hose 106, as the hose 106simply abuts the helical ramp 118 when the carousel 104 and the 106 areimmersed within the cleaning solution 108 and locked in place within thecontainer body 102.

In one or more embodiment, the locking of the carousel 104 within thecontainer body 102 is facilitated by an optional locking arrangement120. As illustrated in FIG. 1 thru FIG. 3 , the locking arrangement 120comprises an L-shaped protrusion 122 configured adjacent an operativebottom end 104B of the carousel 104. The locking arrangement 120 furthercomprises a receiving protrusion 124 configured on an operative bottomend 102B of the container body 102. For locking the carousel 104 withinthe container body 102, the carousel 104 is inserted within thecontainer body 102 and rotated until the L-shaped protrusion 122 isinserted within or received within the receiving protrusion 124. Inanother embodiment, the positions of the L-shaped protrusion 122 and thereceiving protrusion 124 may be swapped with the receiving protrusionconfigured on the carousel and the L-shaped protrusion configured on thecontainer body.

While the hose 106 is supported in the container body 102 on thecarousel 104 adjacent the inner periphery of the container body 102, thecentral area of the container body 102 may be used to clean the othercomponents, e.g., a mask 126 or water chamber (not shown), as can beseen in FIG. 3 . The cleaning solution 108 may be water or a mixture ofwater and a cleaning agent.

In one embodiment, the elements of the carousel 104, i.e., the supportstructure 110 and the helical ramp 118, are integral and manufacturedvia molding operation in a single mold. In one embodiment, the carousel104 may be made of a plastic material. In another embodiment, thecarousel 104 may be made of a corrosion resistant metallic material.

FIG. 4 illustrates an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of theapparatus 100. Referring to FIG. 4 , the container body 102 and thecarousel 104 have a rectangular shape. It is to be noted that containerbody 102 and the carousel 104 may have any other shape as well and arenot limited to being either circular or rectangular.

As seen in other exemplary embodiments illustrated FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 ,the carousel 104 may comprise a support structure 110, having walls 114Bconfigured in a variety of shapes including circular and rectangularshape. The helical ramp 118 extends helically from an operative top end110A to an operative bottom end 110B of the support structure 110 alonga periphery thereof.

An advantageous aspect of the apparatus 100 is the ability to facilitatecleaning of the hose 106 and the mask 126 in a manner that is veryconvenient and easy to the user. More specifically, as against theconventional method of cleaning the hose where the hose repeatedlyfloats on top of the cleaning solution, using the apparatus 100, theuser does not need to worry about optimal contact establishment betweenthe cleaning solution and the inner surface of the hose 106, which maybe exposed disease causing viruses and bacteria present in nasal andoral secretions of the user.

While the disclosure has been described with reference to exemplaryembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made, and equivalents may be substituted forelements thereof, without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Inaddition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular system,device or component thereof to the teachings of the disclosure withoutdeparting from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intendedthat the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodimentsdisclosed for carrying out this disclosure, but that the disclosure willinclude all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote anyorder or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are usedto distinguish one element from another.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure.As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

The description of the present disclosure has been presented forpurposes of illustration and description but is not intended to beexhaustive or limited to the disclosure in the form disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Thedescribed embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explainthe principles of the disclosure and the practical application, and toenable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosurefor various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for cleaning a continuous positiveairway pressure (CPAP) machine airway hose comprising: a container bodyhaving a cylindrical shape with sides, an open top end, and a closedbottom end, defining an interior space for containing a volume of acleaning solution; a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machineairway hose; and a carousel configured for placement within thecylindrical container body, the carousel comprising: a support structurehaving an operative top end and operative bottom end; and a helical ramphaving a top surface and a bottom surfaces attached to the supportstructure and extending helically as loops in a circumferentialdirection at a pitch angle from an operative top end of the supportstructure to an operative bottom end of the support structure along aperiphery of the support structure, thereby the hose is held within thecontainer body by the carousel such that when the carousel is fitted inthe container body, and the hose is held and immersed inside thecleaning solution filled in the container body, wherein air trappedinside the hose escapes in the form of air bubbles through the cleaningsolution filled in the container body, such that the entire surface areaof the hose is in contact with the cleaning solution to ensure that thehose is optimally clean.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising a locking arrangement for locking the carousel within thecontainer body, wherein the locking arrangement comprises: an L-shapedprotrusion placed on one of the carousel and the container body at alocation adjacent an operative bottom end belonging to said one of thecarousel and the container body; a receiving protrusion placed on theother one of the carousel and the container body at a location adjacentan operative bottom end belonging to said other one of the carousel andthe container body; and wherein the locking arrangement is actuated byrotating the carousel within the container body.
 3. The cleaningapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support structure comprisesa base.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a lid.5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising the volume ofa cleaning solution sufficient to partially fill the container body.